Tony Vitello’s College World Series bound Tennessee Volunteers led all programs with five selections on the American Baseball Coaches Association Southeast All-Region Teams that were announced Tuesday morning.
Five Volunteers were named to the first-team, a list including second baseman Christian Moore, first baseman Blake Burke, starting pitcher Drew Beam, pitcher AJ Causey and pitcher Nate Snead. Outfielders Kavares Tears and Dylan Dreiling were named to the second-team. Beam was the only player who has received All-regional honors in the past, doing so as a freshman in 2022.
The impressive group of seven ties a Tennessee record set back in 2022 when the Vols boasted six on the first-team.
Moore has been one of college baseball’s best payers in 2024, scorching the baseball for 32 home runs and 71 runs batted in – both first on the squad – from the leadoff spot. His .375 batting average is just one tick lower than Burke’s, who has launched 19 home runs and driven in 56 runs on the year. Tears is hitting .330 on the campaign with 18 home runs and 55 RBI while Dreiling sits at .320 with 20 home runs and 64 RBI, hitting in the cleanup spot for the final month of the season.
Causey has been incredible since coming over from Jacksonville State via the transfer portal last summer. The sidewinder has recorded an astounding 13-3 record with a 3.77 ERA over 86 innings pitched with 117 strikeouts and 19 walks. Snead, who transferred in prior to the 2024 campaign as well, has impressed with a 9-2 record and 3.34 ERA over 67.1 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts to 21 walks.
Tennessee returns to Omaha for the College World Series for the third time in four seasons and seventh time in program history. The Vols will take on Florida State on Friday, 7 pm eastern time on ESPN.
UT’s side of the bracket (Bracket 1) includes Friday challenger Florida State, along with Virginia and North Carolina. The other side of the bracket (Bracket 2) consists of Kentucky, Florida, Texas A&M and North Carolina State.
Each side will compete in a regional set-up, featuring double-elimination, before advancing on to the College World Series Finals. The best of a three-game setup Finals round will begin on Saturday, June 22 and run through Monday, June 24 if necessary.
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